Newsletters from Togo

Our staff in Togo regularly put together a newsletter which is sent to volunteers working in Togo at the time, those signed up to join a project in Togo and to previous volunteers. The newsletters contain information about the country and our projects, stories written by volunteers, advice on what to expect when volunteering abroad in Togo and much more. If you're considering overseas voluntary work the newsletters are a great way to gain a better idea of what to expect.

These two bright Danish volunteers, Tatiana Hansen and Anna Olesen, were chosen as outstanding volunteers for their acts of kindness towards the children of Care centre COR in Togo. These young ladies personalised the care centre's playground with a slide, swing-chair, two play horses and a balance-swing, with money they raised.

The Community Farming Projects is ideal for those interested in gaining an insight into agriculture and farming in a tropical environment by working on a small organic farm. No previous experience is requred,so you may join this project on a gap year, during a career break or holiday period.

"I started work every day at around 8am and went to the newsroom where the articles or the day were discussed and I was told who I would be going on a 'reportage' with that day. At the reportage I would shadow the journalist and take notes."

Having started my time in Togo as a volunteer myself, I appreciate well that working and living in this tiny slice of West Africa offers a plethora of unexpected challenges, cultural obscurities and daily misunderstandings.

We encourage everyone to join us in making it interesting and exciting by sending in your own written articles and pictures of your experiences here with us. Your stories and pictures will help others to understand and learn about Togo. If you have anything you’d like to contribute, suggest or comment on, please contact rodrigueklu@projects-abroad.org

Children living in some care centres eat their lunch and dinner; sadly it is often a unique meal which has to feed a large family. Their food often lacks sufficient nutriments. When our volunteers arrive in those care centres, they try their best to provide good food in order to help the children to eat well.

On June 21st I stepped down from the airplane into West Africa's oppressive heat with no idea about what was in store for me for the next two months. As I staggered out of the airport under the weight of my backpack I realized for the first time that I was on the other side of the world, surrounded by a different culture. From that point on my time in Togo is a blur of wild experiences.

Togo. I must say: what an experience. I first arrived in Togo at the beginning of June for my medical placement with Projects Abroad. It was nighttime, and I had no idea where I was direction wise. It was very hard to see the buildings surrounding the city and it was difficult to see the landscape as well.

Last week, Rodrigue, the wonderful, enthusiastic, always ready with a smile, Rodrigue, asked me to write an article about my time here in Togo. I’ve been putting it off because writing this article means that my time here is almost finished, and it is with bittersweet sorrow that I leave this amazing place.

Last year, if you asked me “Where’s Togo?”, I would think maybe you just had a weird accent and were at McDonald’s looking for where to pick up your food. Over the last month here (West Africa... between Benin and Ghana, by the way) I have discovered a small, beautiful country filled with beautiful people.

Already on the airplane, before I had even landed in Togo, I was greeted by several friendly Togolese people who were curious about my stay in Togo. At the time I didn’t know that this was only the beginning of all the kindness and big smiles the Togolese people would show me.

My name is Serra and I am in Togo for four months working on a variety of different medical projects. I received my university degree last year in Global Health, but I do not have any medical training. In the future, I plan to attend medical school to become a surgeon with the hopes of working in low-resource areas.

It is exciting to see the first reaction, when a child notices you. One reaction, which I luckily often meet, is that they run to you and give you a huge hug. This is very surprising the first time it happens, but it still feels amazing to get such a welcome. Immediately you know that it is going to be great to get to work every day.